Bill > HB2397

This bill, named the Eddie Thomas Act, requires the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) to publish an annual comprehensive report about hospice and palliative care for incarcerated individuals. The bill acknowledges the rapidly aging prison population, with over 1,000 prisoners aged 65 or older, and the need for consistent end-of-life care. The annual report must include detailed, anonymized data covering seven key areas: demographic information about patients receiving hospice care (including race, gender, age, and illness), program enrollment statistics, timing of care, death records, institutional policies and directives, staffing information, and program costs. The bill defines important terms like "hospice and palliative care" as physical, social, emotional, and spiritual support for terminally ill individuals with a life expectancy of 6 months or less. The legislation was inspired by the story of Eddie Thomas, a prisoner who died alone in a prison infirmary just five months after being diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer, highlighting the need for more systematic and compassionate end-of-life care in correctional facilities. The report aims to provide transparency and help the General Assembly and public understand the DOC's approach to caring for terminally ill individuals in its custody.

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https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2397&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104